Civil Rights Notice

Translation and Alternative Formats

If you need free help interpreting the information on this website, please contact
Member Services
for the program you are enrolled in.

Auxiliary Aids and Services. SCHA provides auxiliary aids and services, like qualified interpreters or information in accessible formats, free of charge and in a timely manner, to ensure an equal opportunity to participate in our health care programs. Contact SCHA Member Services at members@mnscha.org, call 1-866-567-7242 (toll-free), or use your preferred relay service.

Language Assistance Services. SCHA provides translated documents and spoken language interpreting, free of charge and in a timely manner, when language assistance services are necessary to ensure limited English speakers have meaningful access to information and services. Contact SCHA Member Services at members@mnscha.org or call 1-866-567-7242 (toll-free).

American Indians can continue or begin to use tribal and Indian Health Services (IHS) clinics. We will not require prior approval or impose any conditions for you to get services at these clinics. For enrollees age 65 years and older this includes Elderly Waiver (EW) services accessed through the tribe. If a doctor or other provider in a tribal or IHS clinic refers you to a provider in our network, we will not require you to see your primary care provider prior to the referral.

Civil Rights Notice

Discrimination is against the law. South Country Health Alliance (SCHA) does not discriminate on the basis of any of the following: race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sexual orientation, public assistance status, age, disability (including physical or mental impairment), marital status, sex (including sex stereotypes and gender identity), political beliefs, medical condition, health status, receipt of health care services, claims experience, medical history, or genetic information.

Civil Rights Complaints

You have the right to file a discrimination complaint if you believe you were treated in a discriminatory way by SCHA. You may contact any of the following four agencies directly to file a discrimination complaint:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
You have the right to file a complaint with the OCR, a federal agency, if you believe you have been discriminated against because of any of the following: race color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including sex stereotypes and gender identity). Contact the OCR directly to file a complaint:

Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR).
In Minnesota, you have the right to file a complaint with the MDHR if you believe you have been discriminated against because of any of the following: race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, public assistance status, or disability. Contact the MDHR directly to file a complaint:

Minnesota Department of Human Rights

Freeman Building, 625 North Robert Street

St. Paul, MN 55155

651-539-1100 (voice)

800-657-3704 (toll free)

711 or 800-627-3529 (MN Relay)

651-296-9042 (Fax)

Info.MDHR@state.mn.us (Email)

Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).
You have the right to file a complaint with DHS if you believe you have been discriminated against in our health care programs because of any of the following: race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sexual orientation, public assistance status, age, disability (including physical or mental impairment), marital status, sex (including sex stereotypes and gender identity), political beliefs, medical condition, health status, receipt of health care services, claims experience, medical history, or genetic information.

Complaints must be in writing and filed within 180 days of the date you discovered the alleged discrimination. The complaint must contain your name, address, and describe the discrimination you are complaining about. After we get your complaint, we will review it and notify you in writing about whether we have authority to investigate. If we do, we will will investigate the complaint.

DHS will notify you in writing of the investigation’s outcome. You have the right to appeal the outcome if you disagree with the decision. To appeal, you must send a written request to have DHS review the investigation outcome period. Be brief and state why you disagree with the decision. Include additional information you think is important.

If you file a complaint this way, the people who work for the agency named in the complaint cannot retaliate against you. This means they cannot punish you in any way for filing a complaint. Filing a complaint in this way does not stop you from seeking out other legal or administrative actions. Contact DHS directly to file a discrimination complaint:

ATTN: Civil Rights Coordinator

Minnesota Department of Human Services

Equal Opportunity and Access Division

P.O. Box 64997

St. Paul, MN 55164-0997

651-431-3040 (voice) or use your preferred relay service

South Country Health Alliance (SCHA).
You can file a complaint and ask for help in filing a complaint in person, by mail, phone, or fax at:

SeniorCare Complete and AbilityCare are health plans that contract with both Medicare and the Minnesota Medical Assistance (Medicaid) program to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees. Enrollment in either plan depends on contract renewal.